Anatomy of the Midnight in Paris Letter
Back in February, I was sitting on the stairs where Owen Wilson sat in Midnight in Paris. I sat there wondering and dreaming and wondering more. I saw something come together in my noggin' and thought, Yep, I've got a plan. So I whipped out my sketch pad.
Notice I'm sketching in my notepad on my satchel. It looks like a regular bag until it's on the lap. Then it's a desk. Genius moment on my part, if I do say so myself.
This was my point of view whilst sitting on the steps:
In the film, the car drives up at midnight and carries our main character back in time to the hey day of the 1920s to hang out with Hemingway, Fitzgerald and Zelda, and to partake in that whole scene. I sketched out a rough idea of where I wanted the letter to go... sort of back in time.
The ugly modern lamps would be replaced by old fancy ornate lamps, I would elongate the road because I need room to write my letter, and the rooftops would be simplified because I ain't got all day geezus.
That's about when the temperature fell and my hands could hardly hold my pencil.
I grabbed a shot of the scene with my camera before the numbing set in.
I warmed up in a café and wrote down a few thoughts of what I would say where and when. I also made a list of things to do on the side because that's how I roll in my journal pages. It's a whole slew of stuff all at once. My brain: Blessing and curse.
Why is that a copy of the new Paris Letters, hailed by Library Journal as "similar vein to Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat, Pray, Love?"
Soon I was hyped up on caffeine and skipping toward home. But wait, what hath I spotted in the window of the local art supply store? Hmmm... maybe one small detour.
I could always use a #12, and a #6... and well, most of the numbers.
Back at Chez Moi, I turned up the heat, made a more detailed sketch and added paint. Neutrals rule.... and more paint and details with the Uniball Vision Micro pen... the only pen that needs to exist, in my humble opinion.
Beaucoup de cups of tea later, a bunch of layers, a hairdryer, a nap, a few lunches, dinners and days and Voila! This was the Midnight in Paris Letter.
February 2014 PL Frame
Kristin Lau graciously took all the black and whites of me in action... perfect for when a selfie just won't do. Merci Kristin!Save
